Mice with a disease resembling spinal-bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA, or Kennedy disease) that were treated with a compound based on insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) had better motor function, slower weight loss, healthier muscles and longer survival time than mice that received an inactive substance, an MDA-supported research team has reported.

Mice with an SBMA-like disease benefited from extra IGF1 genes in their muscle fibers

posted on August 17, 2009 - 9:00pm

A protein known as insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) may provide a new lead in the treatment of spinal-bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), also known as Kennedy disease.
A multinational team coordinated by MDA research grantee Maria Pennuto at the Italian Institute of Technology in Genoa, has found that having extra IGF1 genes seems to improve muscle strength and function in mice bred to have an...